subject: The Dangers Of Undefended Internet Surfing [print this page] Unless you've been living in a cave for the past ten years, you are probably aware of the massive explosion in Internet technology in the last few years. The Internet is being used for everything for forensics to watching TV online to hooking up with old college buddies. It is a true testament to human ingenuity that technology continues to expand to meet the growing needs of the average, everyday citizen.
But the Internet has a dark side, an evil underbelly that is lurking just below the surface, waiting to strike when you least expect it. Those that don't know about this evil force are the most vulnerable, as it is designed to prey on the unsuspecting and the unprotected.
I'm talking about computer viruses of course, and the many forms they come in. Some are harmful only in that they will clog up your system, and slow it down to a crawl. Others are deadly serious and will wipe your system clean of any information, potentially causing you to have to use that system recovery disc that came with your machine. This can be extremely disastrous, especially if you don't back your system up on a regular basis.
The most ubiquitous software out there is adware, or spyware. These programs search your computer for personal and private information so that they can sell it to the highest bidder. Information that yo thought was private and confidential can be spread across the Internet like wildfire if you aren't protected.
It used to be that only by surfing certain "adult" sites you were exposing yourself to these, but they are becoming more and more mainstream, so unless you have the right protective software, you are always at risk of these programs.
Fortunately, there are plenty of good software developers out there who have made helpful programs to protect against this lunacy. These programs will run routine scans of your machine, and remove these malicious programs. It is highly recommended that you run a kind of software like this on a regular basis. Your computer will thank you.
